Casemiro, Modric and Marcelo are irreplaceable for Real Madrid – Jorge Valdano

Former Real Madrid player and manager Jorge Valdano believes his side are struggling to cope without first-team stars Casemiro, Luka Modric and Marcelo.

Zinedine Zidane’s side have hit a bad rut in form recently, having drawn their last four games across all competitions, with three of them coming in the league.

That has not happened at Real Madrid since Zidane was actually wearing the famous white shirt as a player back in 2006.

Whilst Zidane has riches in virtually every department, he has been unfortunate with injuries as well after Casemiro suffered a broken leg a few weeks ago.

The Brazilian was then joined by compatriot Marcelo who injured his calf against Villarreal, before Modric had to have surgery on a knee problem last week which is expected to sidelined him for a month.

"Real Madrid have been unlucky, they have injured players in positions where there are no alternatives, there is no other Casemiro, no other Marcelo and no other Modric and that impacts the team in general," Valdano told Radio MARCA.

"In football you have to play in the way you know best but Madrid are not able to effectively use a playmaker in a team without a noted playmaker's position, when you try and change a player's nature, you have a problem."